Conditioning of tobacco and similar materials



Aug. 28, 1934. G, HARR|$ 1,971,405

CONDITIONING OF TOBACCO AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Original Filed Nov. 2. 1929 35% Km IL/(MW Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES 1 PATENT OFFICE CONDITIONING F TOBACCO AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Application November 2, 1929, Serial No. 404,386 Renewed January 29, 1934 Claims. (Cl. 131--55) This invention relates in general to the conditioning of materials and more particularly has reference to a process and apparatus for conditioning air or other gases, which are circulated C over tobacco or other materials to be treated.

Tobacco, when dry, is crisp and brittle and, consequently, cannot be worked without danger of breaking the leaf. Tobacco leaves for use as wrappers for cigars must be unbroken and yet '10 must be manipulated many times prior to being assembled on a cigar. It is esential, therefore, that the tobacco be treated so that the leaves will assimilate moisture sufilcient to render the same pliable to an extent that the leaves may be hanlli died and conditioned for use as cigar wrappers without danger of fracturing them.

The most successful processes for changing the physical characteristics of tobacco from a dry condition, wherein the leaves may be easily 10' broken, to a pliable and flexible condition, in which it is susceptible of handling without risk of fracture, are those in which the hands of dry tobacco are subjected to conditioned air. The con--' I dition of the air is modified during the treatment '25 to insure the permeation of moisture throughout all parts of the leaves, including the stem, the blade or lamina, and the petiole connecting the blade with the stem. Tobacco treated in accordance with this process is of high commercial value, 80 and, moreover, a large percentage of the losses that ordinarily occur in handling are avoided. The present invention contemplates improvements in the processes in which conditioned air ,is passed over tobacco or similar materials.

An object of this invention is to devise an improved method and apparatus for treating tobacco and other materials with conditioned air.

Another object of this invention is to devise a method and apparatus for treating tobacco and 401 similar materials with conditioned air, in which air is humidified by diifusing vapors arising from water into the same, and its temperature properly regulated for treating material.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an air-conditioning apparatus in which air flows over a body of heated water and is subsequently cooled.

Still another object of this invention is to devise an apparatus for treating tobacco and similar materials, comprising a products chamber and an air-conditioning chamber in which the temperature of air saturated with water vapor is controlled by means of cooling coils.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for treating tobacco and similar materials in which treated air is subjected to a body of heated water, a cooling coil and another body of heated water before being drawn into contact with the material to be treated.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the method steps and parts and combinations of apparatus to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several essential features of my invention may be varied to meet operating conditions without departing from the spirit and, scope of the appended claims.

The present invention contemplates condition ing material by circulating air over a body of heated water, cooling the air to a desired temperature, passing it over another body of heated water and then subjecting the material to be treated to the so-conditioned air. In accordance with my invention, a treating apparatus is provided, having a products chamber, surrounded by air-conditioning chambers. Walls 'forming the upper and lower walls of the products chamber are pro-'- vided with a plurality of slots or other apertures, through which air is passed in circulating from the conditioning chambers into the products chamber. Tank structures are provided in the conditioning chambers directly above the upper portion'of the products chamber and beneath the products chamber. These tank structures are provided with means for heating water contained therein, to a temperature sufflcient to generate vapors.

Suitable fans are provided for circulating air or other gas over the tanks in the conditioning chamber and through the slotted partitions into the products chamber. In order to regulate thetemperature of the air, suitable cooling coils or other heat exchange structures are provided in the conditioning I chambers between the. tank structures. Thus, when air leaves the products chamber, it is subjected to the vapors rising from one of the tanks and is then cooled to a. predetermined temperature and then subjected to the vapors rising from another tank before being reintroduced into the products chamber, thus insuring substantially complete saturation before it enters into the products chamber, as will be more definitely explained later.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown, in the accompanying drawing, means for carrying the'same intopractical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawing:

The single figure is a somewhat diagrammatic 8 view 01 a material-conditioning apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

In the drawing. there is shown an apparatus 1 for conditioning tobacco or other. materials requiring similar treatment. This apparatus is divided by walls or partitions into a treating or products chamber 2 and air-conditioning chambers 3, 4, 5, 6 and 'l. The vertical partitions or walls 8 and 9 separate chamber 2 from the side conditioning chambers or ducts 4 and '1, respectively, and horizontal partitions 10 and 11 separate chamber 2 from the upper and lower conditioning chambers. Chamber 5 is in open communication with the side chamber or duct 4, and the lower chamber 6 is in open communication with the side chamber '1. Side chambers 4 and 7 communicate with the upper conditioning chamber 3, through openings in which are positioned fans 12, driven by electric motors 13 or other suitable sources of power. The upper conditioning chamber communicates with the products chamber 2 through slots in the partition 10, and chambers 5 and 6 beneath partition 11 communicate with chamber 2 through similar slots in partition 11.

In order to secure an even distribution of air through the products chamber 2, slots 14 in the walls or partitions 10 and 11 are provided with adjustable closure members 15, which may be actuated to vary the size of the slot openings. It has been found that the size of the slot openings can be so regulated that air will flow through the products .chamber in well-defined streams with practically no intermixing of the streams. This is very desirable, since when the air flows in well-defined streams without any cross circuiting, proper treatment of all of the material will be eflected.

Slots 14 in the upper partition 10 are fitted, with tube-like members 16, with which are associated drip guard deflectors 17. The tube-like members 16 extend a predetermined distance above the partition 10 and cooperate with the partition 10 and walls 8 and 9 to form tank structures in which are contained bodies of water 18. The drip guard deflectors 1'7 extend above the tubes 16 varying distances, as is clearly shown in the drawing. These deflectors prevent any moisture which condenses on the upper wall 19 of the treating apparatus from dripping through the slots 14 onto the material contained in the products chamber 2.

The tank structures afiorded by the several partitions 8, 9 and 10 and the tube structures 16 are provided with suitable overflow conduits 20, which serve to prevent water contained in the tanks from exceeding a predetermined level. Submerged in the bodies of water 18 are suitable heating elements 21, which may be in the form of coils through which hot fluids are circulated, or electrical heating elements. Water is supplied to the tanks above the slotted partition 10 by means of suitable supply conduits, (not shown), which preferably are fitted with valves controlled by automatic regulating devices, such as floats positioned in the tank structure hereinbefore described. With the construction just described, it will be appreciated that the water within the tank structure will be maintained at a substantially constant level, regardless of the quantity of water evaporated therefrom by the heating elements.

Chambers or ducts 5 and 6 beneath partition 11 are separated by the partition or separating wall 22. Each 01' these chambers is provided with a tank adapted to contain a body of water 23, which is prevented irom exceeding a predetermined level by means of the overflow conduits 24. The bodies of water 23 are heated by means of heating elements 25, which are in the form oi coils, through which are circulated hot fluids, or electric elements through which electric current is passed. Water is supplied to the lower tank structures by suitable supply conduits provided with automatically controlled valves for maintaining a predetermined level of water within the tanks.

It will be appreciated that after the vapors arising from the bodies of water diffuse into the air, the temperature of the air will be increased. In order to cool the air so that it will be at the proper temperature for treating the material in the products chamber, there are provided suitable cooling coils 26 in the side conditioning chambers 4 and '7. Water or other cooling media may be supplied to these coils through suitable conduits, (not shown), which are equipped with regulating valves. If desired, thermostatic control means may be provided in the products chamber 2, by means of which the valves positioned in the cool fluid supply conduits may be actuated, and it is obvious that the temperature control can 'also be regulated by controlling the heating elements in both the upper and lower water tank structures. With such construction, the temperature of the air within the products chamber 2 can be automatically maintained at a predetermined value, regardless of operating conditions. In operation, material to be treated is placed in the products chamber 2, and the fans 12 are set in operation so that the air will flow over the material in the desired direction. Air from chamber 1, in one direction of flow, will be drawn down through slots 14 in partition 11 over the bodies of water 23. These bodies of water may be heated at a constant rate or at a varying rate dependent upon the manner in which the struc ture 1s to be .operated. Vapors generated by heating the bodies of water 23 arise and difiuse mtothe air which flows through ducts 5 and 6.

Mixtures of air and vapors flow up through ducts 4 and 7 over the cooling coils 26. The temperature of the cooling coils is maintained by a thermostat within the products chamber so that the air flowing over the coils will be at such a temperature that, after further treatment it will be at the temperature desired for the prod: ucts chamber. Of course, the temperature con- -trol elements may be placed in any other portion of the apparatus to regulate the temperature of the coils in accordance with the temperature variation at that particular portion of the apparatus to carry out the desired process. The tempered air from the ducts 7 and 8, which is substantially saturated with moisture, is then drawn upwardly by the fans 12 and is forced into chamber 3, where it meets with vapors arising from the bodies of water 18. Vapors arising from the bodies of water 18 will diffuse into the air in the chamber 3 to further moisten the same. After this treatment, the air will be at substantially 100% saturation. The last tank before the products chamber, compensates w th water vap for any loss' in humidity occurring after the air has passed over the cooling coils. The treated air will then flow down through the slots 14 over the tobacco or other material to be treated.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the size of the slots 14 maybe regulated by adjusting closures 15 so that the air will flow through the products chamber 2-in well-defined streams, and so that the fluid will be evenly distributed and the material in all portions of the chamber will receive the proper treatment.

- While I have described one form of operation of my invention, in which air passed downwardly through the products chamber, I wish it to be clearly understood that the direction of air flow may be reversed so that the air will flow upwardly through the products chamber.

It will be appreciated that the construction herein'set forth by way of example is very simple, in that relatively few parts are required. Also, it is susceptible of simple operation to produce very effective results. By placing humidifying tanks in the upper compartment 3 and so, associating them with the partition 10 that the partition 10 is of practically the same temperature as the heated bodies 0! water, and greater than the air temperature, there will be no condensation of moisture on the partition 10 which could drip onto the material being treated to spot or otherwise damage the same. The construction herein described is susceptible of being used both in continuous process type of conditioning apparatus or in the intermittent, or compartment type, in which the condition of the air is varied.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise .details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A method of conditioning material comprising moistening a gas, cooling the gas, again the water bodies into the gas immediately before being passed over the material to be treated, and immediately after passing over the material to be treated.

3. A method of treating tobacco and similar materials comprising circulating a gas over a body of heated water, cooling the gas, passing the gas over a second body of heated water, flowing the gas over tobacco to be treated in welldeflned streams and regulating the size of the streams to effect an even distribution of conditioned gas over the tobacco. v

4. An apparatus for conditioning tobacco and similar materials comprising a products chamber,

the lower and upper walls of said products chamber being provided with a plurality of slots, conditioning chambers positioned about the products chamber and communicating therewith through said slots, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain water bodies positioned in said conditioning chambers, means between said tanks and I adapted to contain water bodies for cooling the gas, means for circulating the gas through said chambers and means for controlling the size'of said slots.

5, An apparatus for treating tobacco and similar materials comprising 9. products chamber having upper and lower slotted walls, conditioning chambers, a tank structure associated with the upper walls, a tank structure positioned beneath the lower wall, means positoned in said conditioning chambers for cooling the gas circulated therethrough and means for causing the gas to flow cyclically and serially through the products and conditioning chambers in either direction.

6. An apparatus for conditioning tobacco and similar materials comprising a products chamber, the upper and lower walls of said products chamher being provided with a plurality of slots, conditioning chambers positioned about the products chamber and communicating therewith through said slots, a tank structure associated with said upper slotted walls adapted to contain a body of water, tanks adapted to contain bodies of water in the conditioning chamber beneath said lower slotted wall, cooling means in said conditioning chambers between said tanks adapted to contain bodies of water, and means for circulating a gas through said products chambers and through said conditioning chambers over the bodies of water and the cooling means in either direction.

7. An apparatus for conditioning tobacco and similar materials comprising a products chamber, the upper and lower walls of said products chamber being provided with a plurality of slots through which a gas is circulated, conditioning chambers positioned about the products chamber and communicating therewith through said slots, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain water bodies in said conditioning chamber, means between said tanks adapted to contain water bodies for cooling the gas, a plurality of drip guard deflectors associated with the slots in said upper wall adapted to prevent condensed moisture passing through said slots and means for circulating the gas through said chambers.

8.-An apparatus for conditioning tobacco and similar materials comprising a products chamber, the upper and lower walls of said products chamber being provided with a plurality of slots through which a gas is circulated, conditioning chambers positioned about the products chamber and communicating therewith through said slots, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain water bodies in said conditioning chamber, means between said tanks adapted to contain water bodies for cooling the gas, means associated with said slots for varying the size thereof, and means for circulating the gas through said chambers.

9. An apparatus for conditioning tobacco and similar materials comprising a products chamber, the upper and lower walls of said products chamber being provided with a plurality of slots through which a gas is circulated, conditioning chambers positioned about the products chamber and communicating therewith through said slots, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain water bodies in said conditioning chamber, means between said tanks adapted to contain water bodies for cooling the gas, means in said tanks adapted to contain water bodies adapted to generate vapors and means for circulating the gas through said chambers.

10. An apparatus for conditioning tobacco and similar materials comprising a products chamber, the upper and lower walls of said products chamber being provided with a plurality of slots through which a gas is circulated, conditioning chambers positioned about the products chamber and communicating therewith through said slots, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain water bodies in said conditioning chamber, means between said tanks adapted to contain water bodies for cooling the gas, a pluralityof drip guard deflectors associated with the slots in the upper partition to prevent moisture condensed from the gas from dripping through said slots, means associated with said slots for varying the cross-sectional area thereof and means for circulating the gas through said chambers.

11. A method of conditioning material comprising moistening a gas, cooling the gas to a desired temperature, again moistening the gas, passing the gas in one direction of flow through a zone containing material to be treated, and subsequently reversing the direction of flow of the gas, and moistening, cooling and again moistening the gas before it enters the zone.

12. A method of conditioning tobacco and other materials in which the material to be treated is positioned in a zone through which a conditioning gas is passed in one direction of flow or the reverse direction, comprising moistening the gas as it is discharged from the zone in either direction of flow, and moistening the gas as it is introduced into the zone in either direction of flow.

13. A method of conditioning tobacco and other materials in which the material to be treated is positioned in a zone through which a conditioning gas is passed in one direction of flow or the reverse direction, comprising moistening the gas immediately upon being discharged from the zone in either direction of flow, and moistening the gas immediately before being introduced into the zone in either direction of flow, and cooling the gas as it flows intermediate 0! the moistening steps.

14. An apparatus for conditioning tobacco and similar materials comprising a compartment divided into a products chamber and air conditioning chambers, the lower portion 01 said products chamber being separated from the conditioning chambers by a perforatedpartition, the upper portion of said products chamber being separated from the conditioning chamber by a perforated partition, a tank structure associated with the upper partition, means for circulating a body of air through said lower partition into the conditioning chambers, over the tank structure in the upper conditioning chamber and thence into the products chamber.

- 15. An apparatus for conditioning tobacco and similar materials comprising a products chamber, the upper and lower walls of said products chamber being provided with a pluarality of slots, conditioning chambers positioned about the products chamber and communicating therewith through said slots, means for circulating air through said chambers, means for controlling the size of said slots and means in said products chamber for controlling the temperature 0! air conditioned in said conditioning chamber.

GORDON DON HARRIS. 

